Education minister directs schools to provide in-person classes during strike

Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides at an announcement about the new draft social studies curriculum on Thursday March 14, 2024. (Darcy Seaton/CTV News Edmonton)

EDMONTON — Alberta’s education minister says he has directed school divisions to make efforts to provide in-person learning options to all students as a support worker strike continues.

Around 6,000 workers, from educational assistants to cafeteria staff, have taken to the picket lines in Edmonton, Calgary and Fort McMurray to fight for higher wages.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides had earlier exempted schools from providing in-person learning to students with complex needs during the strike, but a judge stopped those orders last week.

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In a statement Wednesday, Nicolaides said the court ruling highlights the need to examine all resources to ensure all students are cared for regardless of whether they need educational assistant support.

“We have taken the court’s ruling very seriously and we will be making changes to the ministerial orders immediately,” Nicolaides said.

A group of parents and guardians had taken the province to court over the previous order, saying more than 3,700 children are being discriminated against by not being allowed to attend classes in person.

Under the new order, the minister says schools are to find ways to provide in-person learning to all students and help them continue with their usual classroom routines if they must switch to virtual instruction.

School boards are also to keep students and parents informed about operational plans.

Orlagh O’Kelly, the lawyer representing the families who brought the case forward, told The Canadian Press they’re glad to see the province is taking last week’s injunction seriously.

“We hope that this seriousness will continue to allow the effective implementation of the new ministerial orders,” she said.

Edmonton Public School Board spokeswoman Carrie Rosa, in an email, said the board is currently reviewing the updated order’s wording regarding current contingency plans.

Adjustments are being assessed, and more details are to be shared with families soon, she said.

Rory Gill from the Canadian Union of Public Employees has called the minister’s initial order unjust and cruel.

In a statement, union local president Mandy Lamoureux said school divisions are left to deal with the burden of a strike that she says the provincial government is responsible for.

“Rather than play games with the education of special needs students, the government should act to fix the problems caused by low wages for education support staff,” she said. “Come to the bargaining table, end the strike and let’s all get back to learning.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2025.

Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press